Accounting Experience In Accountancy

Accountancy is based on an intricate and detail-oriented profession. Accounting professionals deal with numerical figures on a daily basis, and the slightest error could cause major issues within a company’s financial department. Accountants prepare and analyze financial documents. Ensuring a business’s financial records and taxes are paid properly and efficiently is a major part of an accountant’s job. In addition to preparing financial records, an accountant may also perform audits, process monthly payrolls, prepare budgets, and implement new and improved accounting control procedures (“What Does an Accountant Do”, 2015). A degree in accounting does not mean that one has to become an accountant. There are many job opportunities available

Although obtaining a bachelor’s degree is acceptable in many cases, some employers prefer applicants to have a master’s degree in either accounting or business administration with a concentration in accounting (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). Some positions, such as accounting clerks and bookkeepers, may require only an associate’s degree as long as the applicant has some on the job accounting experience to go with the education. One way to gain experience, while completing the educational requirements, is through an internship with an accounting firm or a corporation’s accounting department. Upon receiving your degree in accountancy, you may choose to become a certified public accountant, CPA, to enhance your job prospects. If you choose to further your career by becoming a CPA, there are additional educational requirements required. Almost all states require CPA candidates to complete 150 semester hours of college coursework to be certified. This requirement means that someone with a Bachelor’s degree still needs 30 more hours of college coursework to be qualified to sit for the CPA. Upon completion of the 150 required hours of college coursework, there is a four-part Uniform CPA Examination from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). The four part examination does not have to be taken all at once, but all four parts must be completed within 18 months of the successful completion of the first